Waryfishes | |
---|---|
Scopelosaurus ahlstromi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Aulopiformes |
Suborder: | Chlorophthalmoidei |
Family: | Notosudidae |
Genera | |
Waryfishes are deep-sea aulopiform fishes in the small family Notosudidae. They are thought to have a circumglobal distribution in subarctic to subantarctic waters. The family name Notosudidae derives from the Greek noton (back) and Latin sudis (a fish, esox, the name of salmon).
Description[edit]
Waryfishes are slender, scaled fish, similar in appearance to lancetfishes, but lacking the greatly enlarged dorsal fin. Although the adults are deep-water fish, the larvae inhabit surface waters, and are unique in having teeth on their upper jaws.[1] Waryfishes lack a swim bladder.
- Dorsal fin: 9-14 rays
- Anal fin: 16-21 rays
- Pectoral fin: 10-15 rays
- Scales in lateral line: 44-65
References[edit]
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). "Notosudidae" in FishBase. April 2012 version.